Recent research by the Cats Protection showed 2.3 million cats in England are currently not microchipped.  This is out of a population of more than nine million.  If your cat isn't microchipped then its time!

Owners will need to ensure their cat has had a microchip implanted by 20 weeks of age.  If already older then please don't delay, contact us for an appointment.

Your contact details must be kept up-to-date in the relevant database - the company the microchip has been registered with. 

If your cat doesn't have a microchip, it hasn't been scanned in the last year or you haven't checked your contact details, we urge you do this.

Microchips are inserted between the shoulder blades, under the skin, via a simple injection.  The microchip then sits under the skin and can often be felt when you stroke your cat - it feels like a grain of rice.  It will stay there for the life time of your cat and will be the most effective way of identifying your cat. 

We use a microchip scanner to scan your cat.  First scanning over their neck/shoulders and if no microchip is detected, we scan the whole cat.  The microchip is completely unique to your cat and if scanned here, we can check the number against the database and confirm the registered contact details.  All veterinary practices both implant and therefore are able to scan pets for a microchip.  Rescue centres and cat charities will have scanners too.

Note: Microchips, on the very rare occasion, may migrate and move from where they were placed.  This isn't usually an issue as we scan the whole cat and will still be able to identify them.  Again very rarely, the microchip may fail and in these cases a new one will be placed and registered.  The old one will stay where it is, but will have the new number registered in its place.  Annual scanning is therefore important.

The contact details corresponding to your cat's microchip details proof the 'keeper' and therefore legal owner of the cat.  If rehoming your cat, details will need to be transferred to the new owner.  If your cat is lost - contact the microchip company (and us).

If a lost cat is handed in to us without a microchip or up-to-date contact details we will post the cat on our Facebook page (click here and follow us today) and encourage people to share.  We are often very successful in finding owners this way, but if we are unable the cat will be rehomed.

Note: Not all lost/stray cats are taken in as it may be in their best interest to put them back where they have been found.

Apart from the obvious benefits of identification and proof of ownership, microchips can be used for microchip operated cat flaps and feeding bowls.  These are incredibly useful to keep your cat/s safe from unwanted intruders and where feeding in a multi-cat household is a challenge, eg cats on different types of food or on a diet.  As an example, click here.

Owners of cats who are found not to have a microchip will be given 21 days to do so or will be fined up to £500. For cats with little or no human interaction or dependency, such as community, farm, or feral cats; microchipping will not be mandatory.

We often are asked if cats should wear collars.  The only type of cat collars we recommend are quick release collars, ideally with a reflector strip.

If your cat gets caught it will release with pressure allowing your cat to get free, so safer than buckle style collars which can be the cause of severe injuries.  Expect to buy a few in your cats life time!    Check your cat's collar regularly to ensure it is fitting correctly and replace if frayed.  Better still look at latex options which aren't as noticeable to your cat and don't rub at their fur in the same way fabric collars do; e.g. click here.

Note:  Its a bit of a balancing act to decide on what to put on your cat's collar and adding accessories can help you 'hear' where your cat is from a distance.  Further advice to consider includes: 

Amongst many of the benefits of the MVP Care Plan (click here), microchips are free of charge.  If not on the Care Plan, current fee including registration is £16.43. 

For further information, click here and visit the Cats Protection website.

Please contact us for further help and advice.